representatives will once again have to focus on the debt ceiling. The current debt ceiling is about $17 trillion, and we continue to add billions to the debt every day.

Senate Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi recently said the “cupboard is bare,” meaning that there is nothing more to be cut from the budget of more than $3.5 trillion. President Barack Obama says he will not negotiate over the debt ceiling, implying that nothing can be cut. The federal government will receive more revenue this year than in its entire history, and it's not enough to cover what we spend, even with the minor cuts earlier this year through the “sequester.”

So, instead of running trillion-dollar annual deficits by spending 35 percent more than we capture in taxes, we now only spend about 25 percent more. Earlier this year we had one of the largest tax increases in history, expected to bring in $600 billion over 10 years.

Republicans continue to try and push for balanced budgets and tax reform that is revenue-neutral. Recent proposed changes in the food-stamp program amount to about a 5 percent cut per year in the budget.

It seems Democrats are not able to find anything to cut except for items within the Defense Department budget, which was hit earlier this year but should still be reviewed. It appears that the Democrats' only answer to this ongoing reckless spending is higher taxes.

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WESTMINSTER, George A. Kuck: I am no longer amazed at President Obama's popularity. Instead of front-page news reporting, I must go to the editorial pages for important items on the president. A telling insight into Obama's thought process was his recent statement, “Raising the debt ceiling, which has been done over hundred times, does not increase our debt” [“Next stop: banana republic,” Commentary, Sept. 22].

The president's magical thinking should have been front-page news the day the words were uttered. This is the same logic used by the bankrupt family that keeps raising its credit card limits until it can no longer pay its debt. Report real news on the front page, please. Do not give Obama a pass on important statements such as this one.

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BREA, James Clifford Preston: In response to the article, “Polls indicate tight GOP presidential field in 2016” [Local, Sept. 23]: It seems there are now more people riding in the wagon than pulling it; therefore, the Democrats' mantra of goodies before governance is the winning formula in all political races.

Obamacare shortcomings

IRVINE, Mike Thomas: We can debate Obamacare pros and cons all day long [“Medicare tsunami,” Opinion, Sept. 21] but there is one aspect that has gotten little attention by commentators and critics that seems to be of far greater importance. This legislation was sold to the public through outright “guarantees” and “promises” that are not in the legislation.

In fairness, we can assume these statements were made in good faith at the time; however, no effort has been undertaken to make good on those guarantees. We are now faced with a law that is transforming America, which lacks the legal foundations that formed the basis for its passage.

Lacking effort on the part of political leadership to rectify these major shortcomings, we are forced to question their intentions all along. None of us is surprised by politicians of questionable character, but now that factor has moved from what in the past consisted of “backroom deals” to being a prominent part of new legislation without any apparent concern from many lawmakers for what appears for all practical purposes to be a charade that they are more than willing to foist upon the public.

Evaluate immigration

LAKEWOOD, Faye DeVore: An interesting and provocative special section entitled “Medicare tsunami” [Opinion, Sept. 21] shows how much the elderly and soon-to-be-elderly are costing the system.

I am one of the so-called “takers” cited in the section because I am older. But I am so far a very healthy older person who has taken little from the system, especially in the area of health care. I do not use food stamps, and I am responsible for my housing and my bills. I regularly contribute to various charities and to my church.

Please do a similar in-depth study about how much illegal aliens are costing the government – especially in Orange County and Los Angeles counties. All of us are paying for their handouts.

On homecoming queens

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Ainsley Harmon: It is very troubling that a young man was allowed to compete for homecoming queen at Marina High School and even more troubling that he should win [“Transgender teen is homecoming queen,” News, Sept. 21]. It is no victory to celebrate when a student body and its administration become so confused that they can't tell the difference between a girl and a boy.

While I feel for his deep, internal struggles, the truth is, Lance may call himself Cassidy and has convinced others to do the same, but it doesn't change the fact that he is still Lance. His dissatisfaction with his gender does not qualify him to be counted as a girl in a girl's competition. This is not insensitivity, just common sense.

A more equitable solution to this might have been to allow him to run for homecoming king. If the students want him for their king, so be it. But, our society is in deep trouble when truth is thrown aside in order to bow to political correctness.

Respectful homage

ANAHEIM, Donna Henderson: What better use for a military base than to honor those who served our country [“Veterans deserve a cemetery at Great Park,” Letters, Sept. 23]? Let us use some of this land to show respect for all O.C. citizens. Let us see if Irvine cares what the rest of us think about what has become of their Great Park. There could be no more fitting use for this land that belongs to all of us.

And for those in South County who did not want the noise from an airport to impact you, how about the sacred silence and respect this would bring to those who flew those noisy machines in defense of our freedoms?

Obama's tribulations

STANTON, Alice Jo Marlin: I do not know how President Barack Obama manages to have a good night's sleep. Yes, his hair is turning white, but he has youth and stamina. He has not lost his smile. The GOP's determination to block and defeat everything he tries to do is very obvious. Their main concern is their party and not the people who have elected them.

Surely it must affect his health and his personal life. I hope in the next congressional elections the public will open its eyes, wake up and use the privilege to vote them all out of office.

A papal suggestion

ANAHEIM, Rick Hobbs: The pope has left out one important concept of Jesus' teachings [“Pope urges wider view of issues,” Front Page, Sept. 20]. Apparently, in John 8:11 His command to the prostitute to “go and sin no more” was merely a suggestion.

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